Building construction form



July 19, 1955 G. M. RErrTl-:R 2,713,190

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FORM Filed NOV. 6,v 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 19,1955 ,6. M. REITTER` 2,713,190

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FORM Filed Nov. e, 1952 4 sheets-sheet 2 i ,1:16.4 .wifi/v To@ 650265 /7. Qi/rfi@ July 19, 1955 G. M. REITTER 2,713,190

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FORM Filed Nov. s, 1952 4 sheets-sheet 3 MMM July19, 1955 G. RErrrERV 2,713,190

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FORM Filed Nov. 6. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 75 7A, 1/f (y 77 I4 q FM r P72 l 21] C\ Q S/ `\\e i@ f7? 424 ja/figg d g? 4f an A7 .g

b 2 ff /NviA/m@ 650,96; M. Pin-rse i TTOP/Vf .United States Patent Olice2,713,190 Patented July 19, 1955 BUmDlNG CONSTRUCTION FORM George M.Reitter, Sacramento, Calif. Application November s, 1952, smal No.'319,063

2 claims. (cl. 25-131) My invention relates to sectional or reusableforms light weight aggregate walls integrally cast with wire meshreinforcement.-

'I'he trend in home and building construction is characterized by anexpanding variety of building materials and a continuing search for thebest techniques and methods for using these materials.

Light weightconcrete comprising an aggregate having a low density, owingto a multitude of entrapped air bubbles, furnishes a building materialhaving many desirable characteristics, particularly suitable for wallconstruction. Preferably, a wall constructed from such low density mixis reinforced not'only by columns of ordinary concrete at intervalsalong the wall perimeter but also by other stilening members such aswire mesh and reinforcing rods.

Customarily, concrete forms for piers or columns are individuallyassembled and then completely disassembled after the column hashardened. Or, if the forms are intended for reuse, such forms oftencompletely surround the column and are reusable only if tapered topermit the form to be lifted vertically from the hardened column. In theone case, the method is not suitable for large scale, low-costproduction; in the other, the technique is not possible where wire meshis to be integrally cast in column and wall.

Itis therefore an object of my invention to provide a buildingconstruction form especially suitable for use in light weight concretewall construction.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a sectional forrn, forthe molding of plastic concrete, usable many times and which is readilyassembled and disassembled.

It is another object of my invention to provide a building constructionform equally adaptable for use in low-cost, large scale buildingconstruction or in smaller, individual projects such as barns, sheds,garages, carports or owner-built dwelling-houses.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a re-usable form forconcrete pillars of numerous crosssectional shapes and which may bereadily set up either at modular intervals or at locations required byparticular wall openings or other structural features.

It is still another object of my invention 'to provide a formconstruction furnishing a variety of column shapes yet permittinginterchangeability between many of the form sections.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a generallyimproved building form construction.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in theembodiment of the invention Vdescribed in the accompanying descriptionand illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a portion of two intersectingwalls of a building; the right wall showing, from right to left, afinished wall panel and column Figure 3 is a side elevation of thestructure shown in Figure 2, the plane of the view being indicated bythe line 3 3 of Figure 2, and having the top portion of the 'form brokenaway to reduce the extent of the ligure.

Figure 4 is an end elevation, the plane of which is indicated by theline 4-4 of Figure 2, the figure being broken to reduce its size.

Figure 5 is a plan of a corner columnar form constructed according to myinvention and showing corner foundation boards and falseworkconstruction.

Figure 6 is a plan of a columnar form having one section with a planarface and the other section with a central projection as for an interiorpartition or plastering ground.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a modied kind of a columnar form showingend walls adjustable to receive and hold a window frame, the sectionbeing along a horizontal plane bisecting the window frame.

Figure 8 is a plan of a modification of my columnar sectional form.

Figure 9 is a plan of a modified form of bracket fastening, a portion ofthe figure being broken away to reduce its extent.

Figure l0 is a perspective of the top of a columnar form showingsupporting struts and strut stakes and fastenings, the figure beingbroken away to reduce its size.

In the construction of homes and other types of buildings it is analmost universal practice to provide a continuous foundation or footing-to support the exterior wall. Where concrete is utilized as afoundation it is a Well-known procedure to dig into the ground 5 alongthe foundation line 6 a trench 7 lined with an exterior foundation board8 or form and an interior board 9, defining between the boards, a hollow11 into which concrete is to be poured, and forming, on hardening,

.an outer or marginal foundation 12 upon which the wall structure issupported.

Suspended in a vertical plane, by means not shown, along the centerline-6 of the foundation and extending from substantially the bottom of thetrench 7 vertically to the desired wall height, is a wire mesh 13serving not only as a reinforcement of the foundation, columns andwalls, but acting as well, to integrate these components into a unitarystructure.

To increase the compression and bending strength of the walls, columnsof regular (not light-weight) concrete are ordinarily poured first, suchas, for example, a corner column 14 and a wall column 16 spaced atapropriate intervals around the wall perimeter.

This type of construction has been found very convenient for smallbuilders or persons building their own homes since they are enabled tobuild the wall in convenient sections. Thus by purchasing or renting buta few of the basic construction forms an entire building may be built astime permits. The right hand wall structure of Figure l, including thecorner column, for example, might already have been completed as far asis shown. By fastening contiguous wire mesh sections together such as bywire ties 17, and supporting the mesh along and within vthe left handwall foundation (by means not shown) the builder is ready to proceedwith the next step in constructing the left wall.

i are columnar forms 18 or boxes.

crete column is a side plate 21 or face plate having,

intumed edges 22 or end plates bent from or welded to the face plate.The plates are preferably of metal having a substantial thickness andstrength to resist the hydrostatic head or bursting force exerted byfluidconcrete poured into a compartment 23 formed byA the respectiveform halves open to each other on opposite sides of a wire mesh 13 andon opposite sides of a reinforcing rod 24 fastened to the mesh by wireties 26.

Plastic .concrete exerts a very considerable pressure, particularlytoward the bottom of a column of the fluid having the height, lforexample, of a building wall. To resist this pressure I provide aplurality of pairs of brackets 27, upstanding from opposite edge plates.Sufficient bracket pairs are required and of adequate strength towithstand the force of the hydrostatic head exerted- In orderto locateand hold the bottom of the columnar box form correctly with respect tothe foundation, and to augment the clamping force near the bottom of thecolumn while the poured concrete is setting,fI provide on each form halfa pair of flanges 31 or foot plates projecting outwardly from the baseof the form, perpendicular to the end plates and substantially co-planarwith the face plate.

The outer portion of the flange is bent inwardly to form an ear32beveled on its inner edge to form with the adjacent llange ear a roughV-shape (Figure 4), more easily to permit the entry of a persons handinto a hand hole 33 defined by the end plates, flanges and ears.

The ears are fastened by bolts 34 'or other means to a transversecross-brace 36 supported by thefoundation boards 8 and 9'and by stakes37 securely driven into the ground and nailed to the brace. Ihefalsework structure thus secures the form base against motionlongitudinally of the foundation, and transversely thereto.

. The bolts 34 are conveniently inserted by hand from the hand hole sideof the ears, through the drilled holes in the ears and registering holesin the cross-brace, thus permitting the nuts vto be taken up from theoutside.

A quite comparable pair of flanges 38 and ears 39 are also provided atthe opposite or top end of each column form (see Figure 10) to permituse of either they are effective to hold the top of the column in its.

appropriate vertical attitude by resisting either transverse orlongitudinal forces while the concrete is poured and hardening.

It has been found convenient in the construction of buildings of thepresent ty'pe to make the comer posts or columns 14 in an L-shapecross-section, each leg of the L being substantially equal in length.

To obtain a column of this shape I provide an. outer corner form 47 andan inner corner form 48. Both, forms have similar intumed end plates 49,pairs of brackets l, clamping bolts 52, pairs of flanges 53, ears 54 andbolted falseworks 56, quite comparable to the structure heretofore morefully described in connection with the planar.

form, but differing in that the opposite ends of the comer column andthe attendant end structure are at right angles while in the case of theplanar form the corresponding parts are in parallel relationship.'

To form the column faces I provide an outer L-shaped face plate 57pivoted at the junction by a hinge 58, to

` permit the outer form 47 to be removedafterthe conbuildings havingwalls atv anotherfangle, either greaterf or less than 90 degrees, to usea form having its respective plates and flanges at such angle and beingproportioned to give the required column dimension.

Corner columns are frequently poured using two `or more reinforcing bars6l, wired to the mesh, for greater strength.

It is often'found useful to provide a wall column with a partition stub62 as shown in Figure 1, helpful,for example in interiorpartitioningserving as a ground for plastering, or for ornamental anddecorative purposes.

I therefore form in one halfof a planar column form a box-like or otherconfiguration running the entire height of the form-half, or for only aportion of the height of the column, to create a decorative projectionfrom the face of the column, as for example a small shelf. Although notillustrated, it is equally convenient to indent the form-half to producein the finished column a hollow or a niche, useful, for example, as atelephone niche or other utilitarian or artistic purpose.

Openings in the frame or walls such as doors-and windows are'customarilystrengthened by providing a column on each side of the opening.

Figures 1 and 7 are illustrative of the'casement type ofwindowfrequently used in construction of the present kind. Such window,often aluminum, comprises a rectangular framework 64 of hollow orbox-like section and having, preferably, a projection 66 from eachcorner of the box to form a substantially concave face on each outerside of the hollow box section.`

In order to position the frame, a rectangular section ofv the wire meshis cut out and the frame wired or spot welded into the cut-out area asat in Figure .7. A column form 67 is then clamped in position on each ofthe Stiles or vertical sections of the window frame. In many respectsthis form resembles the planar column form but differs in that on thewindow end of the form the end walls 68 are stubbed and have formedtherein a slot 69 to receive a flat headed clamping bolt 71, whose headfits snugly a beveled hole in an adjustable or sliding end plate Theadjustable end'plate 72 may extend either from bottom to top of theform, having in this cas'e a notch to accommodate the window frame, orthe plate may be adjustable only over that portion of the end platewhich will receive the window frame.

Figure 7 also illustrates a modification of my clamping bracket. Ratherthan utilizing angle irons fastened to the end plates I provide arms 73extending from the face plate and being inwardly bent to form anL-shaped angle piece 74 through which extend the usual clamping bolts76.

When concrete is poured into the window frame mold the concrete fillsall vacant spaces therein including the concave portion of the windowframe 64 extending into the mold. Thus, when the concrete hardens, theframe is securely locked in the mold.

Still another modification of my column form is shown in Figure 8. Aface plate 77 extends between falsework cross-braces 78. End plates 79along with that 'portion of the face plate 77 lying between the endplates define an open hollow 81 or box mold into which the concrete ispoured. Near the b ottom of the column mold is welded a pair ofl ears 82through which pass ap- .propriate fastenings 83 connecting the ears tothe crossbraces 78. Bolts 84, spaced at predetermined locations up anddown the column, serve to clamp the two halves together with the wiremesh 86 therebetween. It is to be noted that no concrete is poured intothe space designated 87.

While ordinary bolts and nuts are entirely satisfactory in clamping theangle iron type of bracket under most circumstances, I provide amodification which lends itself particularly well to large scalebuilding construction where the saving of time is of the essence. As islshown in Figure 9, I provide one of the brackets 91 with a pair of ears92 upstanding from the inner side of the bracket and having drilledthrough the ears a pair of registering holes. An eye bolt 93 is insertedbetween the ears and a pin 94- slid through'the ear holes and bolt eyeand secured against lengthwise translation as by peening or rivetingover each end of the pin. The bolt 93 is free to pivot about the pin andthus may be inserted in a slot 96 in the adjacent bracket 97 and aclamping effect exerted by taking up on a buttery nut 98.

When the columnar forms have been clamped together, and the falseworksand struts attached thereto, concrete can be poured into the mold fromthe top.` At the same time concrete can be poured and tamped in thefoundation. When the concrete has suiciently set, the struts andfalseworks can be removed and the brackets unclamped. The two formhalves may then be taken olf and moved to the next wall section forfurther use.

In order to complete the wall panel between adjacent columns, as forexample columns and 16 in Figure l, I provide a sheet 101 of plywood orcomparable material having a length suicient to span the adjacentcolumns from center line to center line and preferably of convenientmodulator lengths such as eight feet or ten feet, and ordinarily havinga width of four feet so that one supported on the other will extend fromthe foundation to the usual wall height of eight feet. Angle ironstiieners 102 are fastened lengthwise of the sheet to resist the forceexerted by the lightweight concrete material 103. A plurality of throughbolts 104 clamp the sheets 101 together, the foundation boardssupporting the bot- 'tom edge 106 of the sheets. 'Ihe through bolts areremoved upon some hardening of the wall and the bolt holes plugged withconcrete slurry.

Light weight concrete is ordinarily poured to within about six inches ofthe top of the wall. After some degree of hardening, the last or top sixinches may be poured, using regular concrete, and either with or withouta horizontal reinforcing rod for increased beam strength. This topportion of regularconcrete also serves to tie the top portion'of thewall together quite comparably to the function of doubled top plates ina frame Where wall openings such as a window are encountered, separatepours are often made. First, the panel below the window sill is coveredby the plywood sheets and concrete poured up to the bottom of the sill.To pour the wall above the top sill, a retaining boardor metal sheet isplaced on the top sill (or on Ythe lintel in the cue of a door) thesheets are bolted together, between the columns on each side of theopening, and the pour made.

What is claimed is:

l. A concrete column and wall construction form comprising a foundationform including a pair of longitudinal foundation boards located onopposite sides of a wire mesh disposed within a vertical median planethrough said foundation, a plurality of bilaterally symmetrical boxessupported on said foundation boards, each of said boxes including a pairof channels facing each other on opposite sides of said median plane toform a plastic cement receiving compartment, each of said channelshaving a pair of ilanges at the upper end and atthe lower end thereof,each of said lianges having a rst portion extending longitudinally alongthe upper surface of the adjacent foundation board in oppositedirections from said channel and a second portion extending transverselythereto, falseworks fastened to said second portions of said anges andsupported by said foundation boards, each of said channelshaving mountedon opposite edges a plurality of pairs of brackets symmetricallydisposed on each side of a horizontal median plane through saidchannels, said pairs of brackets on one of said channels registeringwith corresponding ones of said pairs of brackets on the other` of saidchannels for clamping engagement, and means for clamping together wallssupported by a foundation, said columns and said walls being inbilaterally symmetrical relationship with respect to a verticalreinforcing wire mesh projecting upwardly from within said foundationtoa height substanitally coincident with the top of said columns and lsaid walls, said foundation, said columns and said walls comprising in.assembled relation a monolithic structure substantially continuousthroughout its length; the method comprising the molding of concretealong and on each side of the lower margin of said wire mesh to form alongitudinal foundation; clamping together on each side of said wiremesh a plurality of bilaterally symmetrical boxes spaced at modularintervals and supported adjacent the top of said foundation; moldingconcrete within said boxes to form a column disposed vertically abovesaid foundation and supported thereby; removing said boxes after settingof the concrete; clamping together a plurality of pairs of panels eachpair extending between adjacent columns and disposed on opposite sidesof said columns and said wire mesh; molding lightweight concrete betweensaid pairs of panels and said adjacent columns to a locationapproximately six inches from the tops of the columns and thetop of thewire mesh to form a lightweight wall; fastening a reinforcing rod to theuncovered portion -of the wire mesh, said rod extending between saidadjacent columns; covering with concrete to the tops of said adjacentcolumns and said pairs of panels the previously uncovered portionsthereof, and imbedding therein said wire mesh and said reinforcing rodto form a wall top plate; and removing said pairs of panels after atleast partial setting of said lightweight concrete in said wall andsaidconcrete in said wall top plate.

References Cited the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,448,883Hall Sept. 7, 1948

